The work of a journalist is hard enough, but when that journalist decides that he will foray into the uncharted waters of undercover investigations then he and she is walking the thin line between life and death.
The fallout of a classic investigative piece can blow up the life of powerful political or social personality and in some cases powerful corporations. So, there is always a target on your back if you are a prolific investigative journalist.
For someone like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, masking his face is both an identity and a way to protect himself and his family. He knows his job is dangerous and relies on his hidden identity to stay safe but has he always been successful in that regard?
In 2018, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, recounted the countless number of times he was betrayed by some trusted colleagues in his field of work.
Speaking at the Media Festival at Takoradi in 2018, Anas Aremeyaw stated that betrayal has been his major challenge working as an undercover journalist. Anas also acknowledged his colleagues who have protected him by concealing his true identity.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas has admitted to several journalists in the line of his work as undercover journalists revealing that he has been betrayed by some persons he refused to name.
“If you do this work for 20 years and you have not been betrayed then you are joking”, he revealed at the weekend during the Media Festival in Takoradi organized by The Press Foundation (TPF).
The controversial undercover journalist indicated that betrayal is one of the major challenges of the work as an undercover journalist explaining how persons who betrayed him in one way or the other came back begging.
He stated that he always sticks to the truth and those who fallout later come begging which is normal of human beings.
“I stick to the truth and those who betray us come back begging. I anticipate such things coming”, he revealed.
Prior to the premiering of the infamous number 12 video Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako was heard on tape saying the source of all the false information and bogus pictures of Anas is from a disgruntled member of the Tiger Eye PI who was dismissed.
Kwaku Baako who was speaking off air in the studios of Peace FM with Kwame Sefa Kayi didn’t know his faint voice in the background was seeping into the microphone with clarity.
According to Baako, the disgruntled Tiger Eye PI Member was asked to go to school and upgrade himself but refused on several occasions, for which reason they had to give him the sack.
Baako rubbished pictures released by outspoken New Patriotic Party (NPP) financier, Kennedy Agyapong as fake.
Anas himself at the event over the weekend commended his colleagues including primary and Junior High School mates for concealing his identity based on a pact he has with them.
“I told my schoolmates, I am moving into another part of the world so anyone who has my images must keep them well, in your own interest, even though I use several faces in the line of investigative work. Colleagues have done very well and heeded to my advice of partnering and protected me over the years and concealed my identity”, he commended.
This article was first published by Ghanaweb on November 27, 2019